A review of 77 studies found that heart attack rates in the UK have fallen by up to 42 per cent since the 2007 smoking ban. A few of the studies found that non-smokers and ex-smokers gained most the benefits, as respiratory problems enhanced by passive smoking were no longer an issue. Struggling to kick it? Try our 4 steps to quitting.

A study published in Age & Aging ran a survey asking if respondents had any sexual activity during the previous year. Men and women getting their end away regularly were likely to be more educated, wealthier, younger, more physically active, not depressed and less lonely. There's more: within the men, sexual activity was associated with higher scores on the cognitive tests. You heard it here first - sex makes you smarter.

Scientists from Imperial College London discovered protein clumps, usually associated with Alzheimer’s disease, in the brains of people who were thought to have long ago recovered from a head injury like a car crash. Those who had sustained more damage to nerve fibres in the brain had more of the clumps, or ‘plaques’ and were experiencing some similar debilitating symptoms to Alzheimer's. We've got eight daily habits to beat dementia - number nine is looking both ways before crossing.

A study in Peer Journal concluded that deodorant affects how bacteria and fungi work in the body, by making potentially dangerous bacteria grow back quicker. Deodorants and antiperspirants - which prevent the glands under the arms from producing sweat - change the microbial "community" that live underneath arms, by eliminating some of the good bacteria and allowing more harmful bacteria to grow. This is just one study however - until more concrete info comes in, we still recommend a spray post-gym.

A study by Furniture Choice has found four out of five people like to binge-watch TV shows (in the age of Netflix, is this really surprising?) but the cumulative effect birngs up our old nemesis. sitting. Do a set of bodyweight squats every half an hour and a set of mountain climbers in between episodes to avoid the perils of your sedentary habits.

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